Games spot Jamie's aim

Jamie Eichorn at the Yamba Bowling Club

YAMBA Bowling Club young gun Jamie Eichorn is eyeing a spot at the Commonwealth Games – now he may be able to afford the car to get him there.

The 16-year-old lawn bowler made a quick trip to the bank to deposit the $3500 he won at last weekend’s Ballina Summerland Singles Tournament.

He held off the challenge of home town favourite Mick Anderson 31-24 in the decider.

The victory makes Eichorn the youngest winner in tournament history and capped an outstanding series for the competition’s youth brigade.

The prize money easily eclipsed Eichorn’s previous biggest payday – a $700 purse at Yamba – and the fact it was against 63 of the region’s finest rivals made it even more impressive.

“I’ll probably put it (the money) in the bank for a little bit, but I’ll probably buy a car eventually,” said Eichorn, the second youngest competitor in the field.

“This was my biggest (win) by far.”

Six years after first picking up a bowl, Eichorn’s ‘mellow’ attitude continues to see him develop and catch the eye of state selectors.

He is enjoying a second term in the NSW under-18 squad in 2010, but a bigger prize could await.

“It was a shock to everyone else (that I won at Ballina). I thought I had a good chance,” he said.

“If I won my section I thought ‘why can’t I win?’.

“That would be ideal (if I could make the Commonwealth Games). If it doesn’t happen that’s OK too.”

Eichorn idolises Melbourne Games gold medallist Kelvin Kerkow, but his inspiration comes from his late father, Brian, who passed away in 2009.

The challenge of beating dad – which Eichorn admits to yearn for‘quite a bit’ – spurred on his rapid improvement in the sport.

But he remains his own man on the greens.

“I got sick of watching dad play bowls (so I started playing),” he laughed.

“I can get pumped up, but I’m fairly laid back.”

Most weekends Eichorn can be caught having a game – and ‘trying to improve’ – at the Wooli Street club.